<p>D and I have a 2 night drive from Reno (leaving midmorning on a Saturday in August) down to Claremont (visiting colleges on Monday morning). Does anyone have suggestions of stops/hotels along the way? D is likely to be kind of tired the first day (probably some napping in the car, at the end of a few weeks of intense summer program). We are from the midwest, so have never made this drive before.</p>
<p>We’ve made the trip from Reno to the central coast several times. The drive down 395 and then through the Tioga pass to Yosemite is lovely and worth the added time compared to the I80 and I5.</p>
<p>Basically it is a 9 hour drive. I’d do it in one shot myself. You’d go I80 from Reno to Sacramento, then I5 south. If you really want to stretch the drive, I’d stay in Sacramento or Stockton (warning, Stockton really still is a cowboy town… not that there is anything wrong with THAT). There is not a heck of a lot and (IMHO) no pleasant places to stay on I-5 until you are practically IN the LA area. </p>
<p>If you are taking the scenic route to the east of the mountains, then good luck. There are tiny towns with all sorts of hotels, but not much to see but farms and small towns and open space… and probably you do NOT want to drive through Death Valley in the summer.</p>
<p>Agree with 395 through Yosemite, worth the time!</p>
<p>For the Clarmont colleges, if you are in the mood for a bit of a splurge, I recommend Casa 425 for a hotel. It is walking distance to the colleges and right down town. Some of the chain hotels are on the other side of the highway or in the new/busy part of town. It was charming and the people there couldn’t have been nicer. They have bikes to loan and that area has a really nice bike path to ride to check out some of the colleges.</p>
<p>I second everything esobay said in previous post, however, would also recommend the Sheraton Fairplex in Ponoma. It is a really nice all-suite hotel with very reasonable rates.</p>
<p>A small note – If you go down state route 395 from Reno on the eastern side of the Sierra, you take SR 120 from Lee Vining up through Tioga Pass then down into the Yosemite Valley. The Tioga Pass road climbs quickly to its high point, you descend/wind more much slowly to the Valley – all magnificent scenery. Could be quite busy on a weekend.</p>
<p>From 395 you have access to both the lowest point in the continental USA (Death Valley, you don’t go through it on 395) and can see Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48. But the last 200 miles or so of 395 into the LA area is fairly deserted (and some think bleak; we drive it a lot, and we love it.). Much of 395 is now divided hiway, but I don’t think it all is.</p>
<p>So the scenic route takes you through Yosemite; the fast route is I80 to I5…</p>
<p>The scenic route sounds great. We are in pretty good shape, and might enjoy a couple of hours of hiking if anyone has a specific suggestion along the route through Yosemite. I haven’t been there since I was 6 years old (so a reaaallllyyy long time ago). I will look at maps, but suggestions from people who have been there are always so much better :)</p>
<p>Here is another idea: Reno to Monterey. Spend night. Nice dinner. Rest. Six hours. </p>
<p>Monterey to Santa Barbara on Highway 1 through Big Sur etc.</p>
<p>Take in sights on the way down. </p>
<p>Spend night in Santa Barbara environs. </p>
<p>Arrive in Claremont area within a few hours…next day. You will be rested up to take on the BIG freeways!</p>
<p>I agree that the Tioga Pass is marvelous but so is the coast! Pt. Lobos is as wonderful. You will drive through mountains on a super freeway if you go Reno down to the Bay Area and then over the Santa Cruz mountains to Monterey and through the silicon valley log jam. You will see so much change in terrain. The traffic will be at times like Chicago area. Some of it will be fine. Once you get over to the coastal roads and over the Santa Cruz grade, it will be small town driving until you hit the LA freeways. Have fun whichever way you decide to go.</p>
<p>Easy hiking stops along the Tioga Road in Yosemite:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Olmstead Point - walk out to the edge of a dome and have a 360 view of the Sierra and Half Dome.</p></li>
<li><p>Tuolumne Meadows - a beautiful meadow walk to Soda Springs.</p></li>
<li><p>Lyell Canyon - start at the parking lot for the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, hike maybe 1/2 mile to the Tuolumne River. There’s a little bridge and and fantastic view of the river and surrounding mountains and meadows.</p></li>
<li><p>Tenaya Lake - just off the road. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I love the Tuolumne region of Yosemite, more than Yosemite Valley. The valley has lovely waterfalls (which may still be running in August due to the tremendous snowpack this year). But the valley is crowded, hard to find a place to park, the trails are crowded and it is overly commercialized. </p>
<p>I’d take 395 and then head up Tioga Pass (a spectacular drive) to the Tuolumne area. Then I’d head back down, back to 395. I love the scenery along 395. You could stay at Mammoth Lakes, CA, a ski town with plenty of accommodations. </p>
<p>Also along 395, an interesting stop is the Manzanar Japanese internment camp historic site. A moving look at one of the not so fine moments of WWII. </p>
<p>Interstate 5 is one of the most boring routes in the country. 395 is very scenic and is four lane for much of the way.</p>
<p>Great suggestions! Any tips on where to stay and eat in Mammoth Lakes?</p>
<p>There are quite a few motels/hotels in Mammoth Lakes. (We usually rent a condo as we stay for several days). If you are going to be there for a weekend night, it would be good to have advance reservations. Mammoth is popular as a summer vacation spot also. There’s a lot of mountain biking and it’s close to Devil’s Postpile and Red’s Meadow, where pack train trips into the Sierra start. There’s a Shilo Inn, and several other chains as well as local places. Mammoth is three or four miles west of 395. (You can’t miss the exit, there’s nothing else there).</p>
<p>Additional suggestions: For myself, I’d leave Reno early to have maximum time in Yosemite on that Saturday. </p>
<p>Also, make sure you have enough gas in the car. There are no gas stations in that part of the park. </p>
<p>There’s a small store and tent-cafe that sells burgers and sandwiches. Other than that there’s no place for lunch. </p>
<p>I’d recommend the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, a tent cabin lodge in the park, but it’s been sold out for months. We once got lucky and there was a last minute cancellation. </p>
<p>Another caveat: If you are prone to altitude sickness, this part of Yosemite isn’t for you. It’s at roughly 9,000 feet.</p>
<p>Mammoth Lakes is very nice. We have done the hikes to Devil’s Postpile and Rainbow falls. You drive up to the ski lodge and then a bus takes you down to Devil’s Postpile. There are tons of lakes and lots and lots of hikes all over Mammoth. I am not sure where to recommend you to stay since we always stay in a condo. Places to eat: In Lee Vining, which is on the 395 right at the 120, about 30 miles before Mammoth coming from Reno, is a place called the Whoa Nelly Deli [Tioga</a> Gas Mart and Whoa Nellie Deli](<a href=“http://www.whoanelliedeli.com/]Tioga”>http://www.whoanelliedeli.com/) ), which is a gourmet restaurant at the Tioga Gas Station. The Lobster taquitos are incredible. And my very picky niece loved the pizza. Also there is a breakfast place in Mammoth called the Stove which is fantastic. Another more expensive place in Mammoth is the Lakefront Restaurant at Tamarack Lodge. Halfway home between Mammoth and Los Angeles is a restaurant pretty much in the middle of nowhere called the Ranch House Cafe in Olancha. My parents love it and stop there everytime they go to Mammoth.</p>
<p>I was thinking Mammoth. We stay in a condo near the lifts but my massage therapist likes the Quality Inn so inexpensive lodging. I know people who love The Villages.
You could hike and rent downhill bikes</p>